31

Jump Start # 2521

Posted on January 31, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2521

2 Timothy 4:16 “At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.”

Within these last few sentences that Paul writes by inspiration, we find some sad truths. Demas, we are told, deserted Paul. Alexander cause a lot of trouble. And, now our verse, no one stood with Paul. He was alone. He was abandoned.

But what we remember the most about this last chapter of Paul are his sterling words, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (v. 7). He did that with all these other things going on around him. He kept and he finished, even those others were not. They were throwing in the towel. They were switching sides. They were looking out for themselves. Paul kept going.

A while back my wife and I were taking another couple out for dinner. We pulled into a little place that we had been to before that we thought would be a great place to eat, connect and visit. I dropped my wife off at the door and went to park the car. She came out shaking her head “no.” When she walked in, a greeter said, “What do you want?” She said the place looked dirty and it smelled, and the smell wasn’t of food. So we left. We found another place. And, we crossed that off of places that we will visit again. We are done with that place.

Now, I say this in regards to one’s experiences at church services. This is a valuable lesson to share with others. I’ve had bad experiences at other places to eat. Overpriced. Food was terrible. Service was slow. Place wasn’t clean. I don’t throw a fit. I don’t demand to see the manager. I just leave. I leave and I tell myself that I’m not going back. But, that has not ruined me on going to other places. It hasn’t made me stay home and eat all my meals at home. I still go out, but there are certain places that I will not go to now.

So, here is someone who has had a bad experience at one congregation. Maybe no one talked to him. No one. Maybe he felt very uncomfortable. Maybe there was a lot of pressure put on him. Maybe he felt like he was being interrogated with so many questions being asked of him. Maybe someone said that he was sitting in their place. Maybe someone made a comment that was narrow, critical and judgmental. Maybe that comment hurt. Maybe, as my wife experienced at a restaurant, someone said, “What do you want?”

I remember going to a place once where I was the guest speaker. No one talked to me. Not before and hardly after. Very awkward. Very rude. Very uncomfortable. Now, did that make me stop preaching in other places? No. Too many have given up on the Lord and have stopped going anywhere because of a bad experience that they had at one place. One can’t do that. You might not go back to that one place again, but you can’t give up on serving the Lord.

Remember Paul. He fought. He kept. He finished. He did that when Demas quit. He did that when Alexander hurt him. He did that when everyone abandoned him. Paul didn’t let bad experiences keep him for doing what he knew was right and what he ought to do.

Now, here are some thoughts:

First, all of us have bad days. Sometimes it seems like everyone is having them at the same time. Some are moody. Some are grumpy. Some are tired. Some have their minds a million miles away. It doesn’t justify rudeness, coldness or indifference. We must step it up when it comes to visitors and worship. Every congregation has it’s own flavor, temperature and style. Some are stiff and others are very laid back. Some are precise and others will get around to it sooner or later. Now, I’m one who believes that if worship starts at 9:30, then we ought to start at 9:30. When we don’t at home, it bothers me. On the road, in other places, it’s probably just the way they are. It’s not home so I put up with it. It’s like going to other people’s home. You see pictures on the wall and you think, “I’d never have that in my house.” It’s ok. It’s their house, not yours. So, you have a little patience and a little tolerance. You put up with things.

Second, don’t blister someone because they don’t do what you think they should. I’ve had people tell me that they visited a place and no one talked to them. Yet, the very people who are telling me this, rarely talk to anyone. Don’t be critical unless you are doing your part. Sometimes things are going on behind the scenes that very few know anything about. Just this past Sunday, about fifteen minutes before we were to start, all the power went out. It came back on, but we have a zillion things in our media booth that require electricity. Livestreaming, recording, mics, projectors—all of them had to be up, running and right. The team did it. It was amazing. But it took a bit of time to do that. We started just a little off of normal. Someone sitting in the audience wouldn’t have known that. Now, one can huff and puff, but often there are things that I do not understand.

Third, we can not let our faith be wrecked by what others do. Paul didn’t. People let him down, but he kept going. Someone may say something that is not nice. Let it go. Someone may say that you are in their seat. They ought to know better, but don’t let that upset you. Don’t let what others do ruin your worship. Don’t let what others do stop your walk with the Lord. Don’t let others stand between you and the cross.

I don’t know what Alexander did to Paul, but it hurt him. He must have still been in the area. Paul was warning Timothy about him. Alexander was bad news. Alexander wasn’t right with the Lord. Paul wasn’t going to allow Alexander to crash his faith. Paul finished the course.

So, keep all of these thoughts in mind. You invite someone to come with you and immediately they bring up a bad experience that they had. Remind them that Jesus didn’t treat them that way and if they had a bad experience eating out, they don’t stop eating out. Give another place a try. Give another place a chance. Sure there are hypocrites. Sure there are some who are not serious. Sure there are some playing church. Sure there are some who have too much of the world still in them. However, there are those who are trying. There are those who are spiritual giants. Even in places like Sardis, which the Lord called “dead,” there were some who were doing what was right. Don’t generalize. Don’t assume they are all the same. Don’t throw in the towel because of a bad experience.

As I write this, it’s lunch time. I’m thinking about where I am going to go to get a bite to eat. I’ll be going out for lunch. A bad experience hasn’t ruined me. Keep that in mind.

Keep going. Finish what you have started.

Roger

30

Jump Start # 2520

Posted on January 30, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2520

1 Samuel 20:3 “Yet David vowed again, saying, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your sight, and he has said, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, or he will be grieved.’ But truly as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is hardly a step between me and death.”

One of our readers asked me if I would write some reflections about the death of Kobe Bryant, the NBA legend who, along with his 13 year old daughter and several others were killed Sunday morning in a helicopter crash. One headline read, “Kobe Bryant’s death stuns the world.” Those of us whose lives are anchored in the word of God are not stunned. Surprised, yes, stunned, no. Normally, healthy forty-one year old people do not die. Worse, thirteen year-olds are not supposed to die. Had Kobe been eighty-five years old and died from cancer, the world would have been sad, but not stunned.

James reminds us that life is just a vapor. And, our verse today, taken from those dark days when King Saul was chasing down David, states that there is “hardly a step between me and death.” That wasn’t just true of David, but it’s true of all of us. It’s one thing to say death is close. It’s one thing to say death is in sight. It’s one thing to say there’s about a football field between me and death. But the passage says, “hardly a step.” That is so close, one could reach out and grab the other. That is so close you could sense and feel the presence behind. That close is really too close.

Kobe was a superstar on the basketball court. He set records. He was a legend. Off the court he encouraged many lives and was living the dream of being famous, rich and influential. But death came. It came without notice. It came suddenly. It came without those with him knowing that this was their last day. And, what we are realizing is that with all his status, money and superstar records on the court, he could not keep death from reaching him. None of us can. The tragic death of Kobe has been told over and over in nearly every generation. Famous musicians dying in plane crashes right after a concert. Presidents being assassinated. Actors dying while making a film. We sometimes think some are beyond death, but none of us are. None of us can keep it away.

Death comes at all times and all places. It does wait for you to say “goodbye.” It doesn’t wait for you to reach your destination. It comes when you are at home and when you are away from home. And, now, what we see and what we realize is that status, money, position, fame doesn’t do much for a person on the other side of this life. That day that Kobe died, thousands of other people died all over the world. There wasn’t a newsbreak announcing these other deaths. Most went unnoticed. Yet, once we cross through that doorway of death into the next room, we are all equal. It’s not black or white. It’s not male or female. It’s not American or Asian. It’s not rich or poor. It’s not famous or common. All of those things matter on this side of the door. But on the other side, only one thing matters, Jesus. That’s it!

So, there are some things we ought to take away from this tragic event of Kobe Bryant’s death:

First, You and I never know when our last moment will be. We don’t get to choose when or how we go through that door of death. We may be feeling great. We may be having a great day, but tragedies can push us through that door. We do not all get to live to be ninety years old and then die in our sleep. For some, it’s sudden accidents. For some, it’s the victim of violence and crime. For some, it’s war. For some, it’s the fault of someone else. For some, it’s a disease. Kobe was 41 years old. His daughter was 13. We don’t get to choose when or where it’s our time to go through the door of death.

Second, the success of life can only be measured on the other side of the door. The rich man in Luke 16 had it all. Big house. Fine clothes. Fancy food. Gated property. He was the envy of many. But once he died, and we pull the curtain back and see from the other side of the door of death, we get a different picture. He’s hurting. He’s miserable. He’s begging. He’s sorry. It is not the picture we got from the front side of the door. There are millions and millions of folks who played basketball but never got to the level of Kobe. Some never made it to the high school team. Those that did, only a handful made it to any college level. After that, just a tiny few made it to the professional level. And, among those, we can just about name the superstars. The rest just weren’t good enough. They found other things to do in life. The same could be said of singers. Only a small number ever make it to the big times. The same could be said of authors. The same could be said of artists. The same could be said of actors. Most of us are just plain ordinary folks. Most of us walk down a street and no one pays any attention to us. We walk in a restaurant and we have to wait our turn like everyone else. No one runs up to us seeking our autographs. Nope. That doesn’t happen. We may dream of that, wish that, but it’s just not going to happen. So, we can settle into a boring, unimpressive life that seems to have no impact and is going no where, because we are not rich and famous, or we can take a look on the other side of the door and see what real success is.

Poor Lazarus in Luke 16 was more successful, better off and happier than the rich man, once he crossed through the door of death. Their lives seemed to flip flop. And, what really is important is that life on the back side of the door is forever. It never ends. Therefore, success is not in the records broken, the size of the house, the number of cars owned, but how one walks with the Lord. Poor, pitiful Lazarus, who seemed to be alone and died alone and had no one to care for him, was the best off once he crossed through the door of death. Riches and fame doesn’t help us on the other side. All that matters is faith and grace.

Third, what the world remembers and what the world values is often not what God does. Kobe will be remembered for his accomplishments in the game of basketball. Only a few could do what he did. Someday you and I will be remembered for what we have done. Jesus said that the one who gives a cup of cold water to a disciple will not lose his reward. Heaven noticed. Heaven remembered. Football, basketball, baseball—amazing athletes and unbelievable records have been set in all of these sports. Yet, in the end, these are games, only games. Life is not a game. Life is to be viewed seriously and soberly. You get one life. You get one chance to live it. We can waste our lives with things that do not matter, or we can fill our hearts and busy our hands in the things of God. We can make a fortune here and then leave it all here, or we can store up treasures in Heaven by living righteously and godly. Each day is an opportunity and a chance to waste it or use it wisely.

Finally, what if this were your last day? What if you didn’t get to speak another word to your family? What if God called you now…What have you done? Are you a spiritual success? Have you been walking with the Lord? How will your family remember you? Stop kicking the can down the road of what you ought to be doing. Some day, you will be out of days. You hop in your car and off you go. Kobe got in his helicopter and off they flew. They never came home. What if you didn’t? Would it matter what’s in your garage? Would it matter how large your TV screen is? Would it matter what movie you saw last week?

Someday will be your last day…you just don’t know when. Live as if you have one foot already in Heaven. Live as if you are ready to go. Live as if this day could be your last.

Roger

29

Jump Start # 2519

Posted on January 29, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2519

Proverbs 27:10 “Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.

Friends—we all have them. We have them on Facebook. We have them listed on our phones. We have them across the backyard fence. And, we have them in our hearts. The best friends are those who move you closer to the Lord. We need to stick near to those who are headed to Heaven.

Our verse today is about two kinds of friends: our friends and our dad’s friends. In a beautiful world those two are often the same. Our dad’s have introduced us to great people and as we grew we kept in touch with them and now they are our friends.

I see that with my kids. I have put quality people in my life that have loved me and helped me so much. My children grew up knowing these people. In fact, when it came time for weddings, my children chose those among my friends to conduct the ceremonies. That touched me that they thought so much of these people as I have.

This is a lesson that I do not think we have stretched and explored enough. We spend an enormous amount of time teaching our teens about how to develop quality friends in their lives. But what about us? Would we want our friends to be their friends? What do our kids think about our friends?

Here are some things to think about:

Whether we want to admit this or not, there are times that our children may want to talk to and get advice from someone other than us. They want a perspective that is not mom or dad. It may be that they know what we will say. I think about Rehoboam, Solomon’s son. When it was his turn to serve as king, he asked this father’s counselors advice. He rejected it. He listen to his contemporaries, his friends. They did not have the insight, experience nor understanding that the older men had. His failure to follow the advice of his father’s friends led to the kingdom splitting. If your grown child really wanted to pour his heart out, would he choose one of your friends?

We show our children the value and good of having quality people surrounding them when they see what we have done. I went to a college basketball with a group of my friends recently. Great men, each of them. A couple of them are amazing preachers. One of my sons joined us. I looked with joy as I saw him sharing hugs, holding conversations and engaging with these great men. I feel confident that if I was no longer on this side of life, that my children would know who to seek for help. During the game, there was an obscene and offensive cheer from the crowd. It was silent in our little row. Godly people. Spiritual giants. Leaders. You put these kind of people in your lives and they will have a great moral influence in your child’s lives.

I feel confident that when my generation has moved on to be with the Lord, that my children will tell their children about these great people that touched our lives. Footprints are being left in the sand of time that will inspire others for a long time to come. There was a time a few generations ago, that the pool of friends was the neighbors and family. Sometimes that included every dog in town and the quality was simply not there. Then, it shifted to classmates, roommates and co-workers. Again, the quality was often missing. Attitudes, language and behavior could at times be questionable. We tolerated it because these were our friends. But, then came the church for us. There we started noticing quality. Good men and women who loved the Lord and us. People that put time aside if we needed them. Generous. Kind. Focused. These were the people of God. Perfect? No. But what a huge difference they were in spirit, attitude and love of the Lord.

How do I find and connect with these kind of people?

First, you must be friendly to have a friend. Don’t always talk about yourself. Don’t always talk. Find those that you have things in common with. Don’t assume because someone is older or younger that they cannot be your friend. If you are looking among dogs, you’ll find a dog. However, if you look among spiritual giants, you’re likely to find a giant.

Second, spend some time together. Go out to eat. Be yourself. Don’t smoother the person. Let things develop and be natural.

Third, don’t take advantage of time, money or personal information of others.

Fourth, seek those that are going to be good examples to you.

Finally, find those who are God’s friends. David was. These are the few that will add quality to your life and help you.

These people of value and quality may not worship with you. They may not live in the same state as you do. That doesn’t stop friendships, especially in our world today.

Your father’s friends. We can’t pick who our parents called friends. But we certainly have a say in who we call friend. Make it people that you’d be proud to have your children know.

Don, Kenny, and Steve—just three of my many friends that I got to spend some time with recently. Good people. Good choices in my life.

I am blessed.

Roger

28

Jump Start # 2518

Posted on January 28, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2518

Isaiah 10:3 “Now what will you do in the day of punishment, and in devastation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your wealth?”

Our Scripture today comes from a serious rebuke of the leadership of Judah. God’s people were going the wrong direction. This has constantly been a problem among God’s people. It remains a problem even today. Wrong leaders. Corrupt leaders. Leaders who do not know how to lead. Leaders who are not committed to the Lord. All of this makes a terrible path for the people of God. In the O.T., leaders were often the very ones who allowed, promoted and supported idolatry. God warned and warned His people. The blind were following the blind. God eventually sent in foreign nations to punish His people. Beloved cities were torched. Lives were lost. Some were taken captive to a foreign land. Their world turned upside down.

In this section, what Isaiah is driving at is that these unfaithful leaders have done what they wanted to do. They enacted evil laws. They made unjust decisions. They took advantage of the people. They robbed the poor and the widow. Now, when God calls them on the carpet for this and when the Lord sends punishment what will they do? Our verse asks, “What will you do?” Who is going to help you? Your people? You’ve walked all over them. And, all this dishonest money you’ve stolen from others, what are you going to do when foreign invaders come? They will take everything. These dishonest rulers have painted themselves into a corner and now they can’t get out. They are trapped. They never saw this coming. They are out of options and out of help. The Lord won’t be there for them. It is the Lord who is sending this punishment. God is fed up with their cruel ways. It’s not a pretty place to be in. Trouble was coming and there was nothing they could do to prevent it.

“Now what will you do?” Great question then and a great question for now. Let’s look at a few thoughts:

Here is a person who walks away from the Lord. I could put names to that scenario. One man served as a deacon and did some preaching here and there. Divorced, remarried, he embraced superstitious religions, including witches. He’s a long, long way from where he once was. Happy. Content. Busy. Having the time of his life. Sounds like the leaders of Judah. What will you do when it’s your time to leave this planet? Giving up on God, Heaven, God’s word, one is left to believe make-believe myths that lack evidence, proof, logic and hope. What will you do if you turn your back on the Lord? Take your chances? What chance do you have? There are no chances.

Here is someone who doesn’t have time for his family. He’s too busy making a career. Higher and higher he climbs that corporate ladder. He makes unbelievable money. It has come with a high price tag. He finds himself doing things and saying things that he never would have done years ago. He’s had to step on others to get where he is at. He’s bent the rules in his favor. He’s made a lot of enemies in the process. But he justifies it as necessary to get to the top. And, the cost has been heavy upon his family. He’s missed his kids growing up. He wasn’t a coach for the kids soccer teams. He wasn’t in the stands when the kids played. He missed the plays that they were in. And, the few times he was there, he wasn’t. He was on the phone. And, this man’s wife feels like a widow. She’s alone. She’s raised the kids by herself. He’s always gone. He’s always on the phone. They have a large home. They drive the best cars. They are the envy of many people, but not his family. And, there has be a huge cost spiritually. While others his same age are being appointed as deacons and shepherds in the congregation, his name is always skipped. He’s hardly ever there. He’s not engaged. He doesn’t seem very interested. He never helps out. He never teaches. But he’s at the top. Jet setter. Expensive suits. Designer watches. Exotic cars. He’s got it. Just like the leaders of Judah. On top of the world, until it all comes to an end. Age catches up with this man. He has to retire. He sits around the house just watching TV. His phone is silent most days. His kids don’t come around. He never built a relationship with them. His wife left him years ago. And now this big shot sits alone in his large home. Now what will you do?

What will you do? That’s a question that we ask most high school graduates. What now? It’s a question that many people wonder about when they walk home from the cemetery. They have just buried their mate of many years. What now? It’s a question that congregations ask when their preacher leaves. What now?

For Judah, it was too late. For Judah, there were no answers. What will you do? They had no answers. There comes a time in life when one realizes that the door is closing and it’s too late. Living paycheck to paycheck seems fine when you are in your 20’s. But as you near your 70’s, you realize it’s too late to do much. Waiting until your kids are teens to start guiding them and giving them rules and instruction is too late. By that time, their attitudes and habits are formed. Waiting until the kids are out of the house to begin a relationship with your mate is too late. And, like the rich man in Luke 16, we can wait until it’s too late to think about our souls and eternity. That rich man was evangelistic, but too late. He was concerned about the spiritual wellbeing of his family, but too late.

What will you do? The true answer to this question is not wait until the is a crisis, a disaster, trouble or coming punishment. What you will do is devote a lifetime to following the Lord. So when the storm come, you have a foundation. You will know what to do. You will trust the Lord. Had these leaders of Judah done that, they may have missed the coming punishment. The sins and trouble we create in life has a way of coming back later and really hurting us.

What will you do? Don’t wait until it’s too late. Don’t wait until you are out of options.

Roger

27

Jump Start # 2517

Posted on January 27, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2517

Isaiah 11:6 “And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them.”

Our verse today describes a change that takes place. God uses common enemies to show that they are no longer enemies. If you put a wolf and a lamb together in a cage, only one is coming out and it’s not the lamb. Leopard and a kid, meaning a goat, not friendly. Here, the leopard is laying down with the goat. You won’t see that on the nature shows. A lion and a calf? Bad news for the calf. The arrangement in this verse is of natural enemies. Animals eat animals. That’s part of the food chain. Part of the circle of life, as the song goes.

But something has taken place. These fierce, wild animals, the wolf, leopard, and lion are no longer stalking these other animals. They are not harming these other animals. They are dwelling together. There seems to be a sense of contentment, joy and fellowship. The lamb is not running away. The kid is not fighting back. The fear that they would normally have is gone. Something has happened. To both sets of animals, there seems to be a change.

Isaiah has shown other changes that would take place. Swords, instruments of war, were being beaten into plows. Warriors were becoming farmers. The climate of hostility was going away. Days of peace were coming.

What was bringing these changes? It was the Messiah. In the passage about the animals, it says “the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord” (11:9). In the passage about making plows, it says, “the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (2:3). Jesus was coming. People would learn His ways. And, in so doing, they would change their ways.

Our verse today is not about zoos, the African safari, or animals. It’s symbolic of people. People were going to change. Those who hate, would not hate anymore. Those who caused trouble, would cease causing trouble. Jew, Gentile, master and slave would all worship together in a congregation. They would look out for each other. They would be part of the same spiritual family in Christ. Compassion, love, humility and service would replace selfishness, indifference, and arrogance. People would be different. It would be a noticeable difference.

What this is showing us is that a person doesn’t simply add “church” to their busy schedule. It’s more than just picking up a Bible now and then. Something has happened on the inside. One’s thinking has changed. The house has been rewired. Christ is now living in us. And, this is a important aspect that folks need to see. It’s not just getting down to the church house on Sunday, it’s being a different person all the time. Everywhere, including work, recreation, home and school. A better way of thinking. A better nature. This is going to be reflected in the words, attitudes, and choices in life. I’m no longer the same. The old man has been crucified. The old person is dead. I’m not that person any more. I’m different. I belong to Jesus.

It would be great to read these verses before a person was baptized to remind them that this is a total and complete change. You are not adding church, your are changing your nature.

Now, a couple of thoughts:

First, when a person says, “I can’t help it,” that’s really an excuse. He can help it. If a person can change their nature, then they can help what they do, say or think. Maybe a dog can’t help it, but you are not a dog. You are made in the image of God. You are governed by the word of God. Jesus lives in you. So, yes, you can help it. You can be nice. You can be kind. You can forgive. You can serve others. “Well, that’s just not my way,” then change your way. If a wolf can change his way about a lamb, then you can change your way about others. Gone is hatred, prejudice, evil speaking, trash talking, putting others down, making fun of others—this includes politics, religion and people we disagree with. This includes in-laws and outlaws.

Some have not grown up with the best environment or examples before them. Some were never taught the grace of Jesus as a child. Home was stressful, ugly and every man for himself. You may have had parents that never said that they loved you. You may never have seen forgiveness. That’s a tough road to travel. But guess what? You can change. Come to Jesus. Learn His ways. You don’t have to be the way you were raised. You don’t have to repeat those lessons to your children. The wolf, the leopard and the lion could change. The lamb, the kid and the calf can also change. One doesn’t have to hold grudges, live in fear or not trust others. You can change.

Second, the means to change is the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Learn His ways. Look at how He treated others. When disappointed with others, especially Peter, He never sent them away. Most of us would have kicked Peter off the team for the way he was. Jesus didn’t. There are times when most of us would have scrapped all the apostles and found us a “B” team to replace them. Jesus didn’t. Patient. Teaching. Enduring. Helping. That’s Jesus. You can be like that. You can change.

I’ve seen that wolf and leopard change. I’ve seen former military men who all their lives have barked out orders at others, demanded from others, and came across as rough, gruff and tough, change. They became Christians. They learned from Jesus. Plows were made from swords. People no longer were afraid to talk to them, because their natures changed. These same people have become some of the best shepherds in the kingdom. They are tinder, kind and compassionate. I’ve seen them gently helping a widow through a funeral. I’ve seen them with tears coming down their cheeks. I’ve seen them pray some of the most earnest prayers. I’ve seen them visiting local jails and helping a teen who made some wrong choices. I’ve seen them open up their homes and allow others to stay for long periods of time. I’ve seen them helping a young mother, whose unfaithful husband has left her alone and nearly destitute. They have paid house payments, found apartments, and even loaned their cars to help. These once rough and tough men have changed. They came to Christ, and they were made the better. People noticed.

And, truth be told, each of us who are in Jesus, ought to have changed. Recently, I got a call about my up coming high school reunion. It will be the 45th year—WOW! I’ve not gone to any of them. I’m not really interested. I’ve not kept up with anyone and I’m not the person that I was in high school. I’ve changed. What interested me then, doesn’t now.

Have you changed? I hope so. If you haven’t, it’s time to start. You do that by spending some time with the Lord.

Roger